WeakMindedFool

I think he has no point. At least not one germain to the conversation up untill he posted. The point of the video and post was to expose safety issues on the jump as well as to stimulate conversation about how to avoid them. He took exception to the fact that I had the temerity, at only 1333 skydives and 3 years in the sport, to describe myself as experienced. Of course we all have more to learn. Does the fact that I have more to learn invalidate the points that I have made? We can argue about what consitutes experience, years in sport, currency, jump numbers, it doen't matter. At least not in this instance. What matters is that we learn from mistakes and do our best to make sure that everyone goes home safe. Lastly, ALL experience is relative. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Number of Jumps: 3800 Years in Sport: 16 Someday maybe I can average 240 jumps a year, then I can attack the messenger instead of the message If you feel that what I am saying shows a lack of understanding or experiance then by all means, jump in and show me the error of my ways. If, however, you have some other motivation, well... I hope posting made you feel better. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Agreed...I was thinking about how a Velo 103 at 2.1 would react to significantly asymetric leg strap lengths. Rigging in the air is bad, very bad, that said if I could fix a problem quickly I would do it. This is with the assumption that I had altitude to play with. At breakoff you have what you have Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Yes it was on properly. Good thing dude didn't have a tiny reserve! I remember it happening on rental gear and seen it on new stuff with that chrom shit on the hardware. Sucks but lots of things suck, getting proficient at back flying might be a good idea. I have found backflying, for me, is the best position to deal with my gear in the air. Now is that the lamest sentence ever "deal with my gear in the air". Lame but probably a good idea. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Plus...it was Phil you really took out...Ask TallGuy about Phil taking the base out. I've done it...more then once. I posted this because there was a lot to learn on this jump, not point fingers.......by the way, how's the nose? Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Sry, should have made that clear. No, the cypress fire was in the base but wasn't injured from the impact. His leg strap was loosend from a hanger, enough that his rig was shifted to the point that he couldn't get at the hacky, or more likely he was looking in the wrong place. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Not really. You have to remember, only a couple of years ago 200 was a D-License. It comes down to the individual, I know people who have 700 I would do a 2-way only with, others with 150 I've done VRW with (tunnel rat but still). I think it has more to do with currency and ability then with numbers. The 175 guy was in the base. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

First watch This Did I get your attention? Good! Now check it out. This is a sunset skydive last Saturday. Where and who doesn’t really matter, what does is that this could have been a fatal, maybe multi fatal incident. I said to myself, “Self…I’m not going to post about this.” I thought a lot about this skydive since and decided I should, I learned a lot and I hope a few other folks do as well. I hope to stimulate a dialogue about this skydive and ways to avoid it happening again. If your comments consist of derision, save it, the point is to learn, not talk about how stupid people could be. I assure you, the people involved are intelligent, current, and diligent about safety. Seemingly inconsequential mistakes that most of us have made can kill. Tunnel vision caused a no pull cypress fire to finish off this skydive. The plan: 8-way Hybrid 3 in the base 3 hangers 2 stingers Stingers off at 5500 Hangers drop at 5000 Base breaks at 4500 Experience level on this jump ranges from 175 to 8000 Skydives. As you can see from the video one of the hangers punches through the base, a bloody nose for her and a serious hit to the back of the head to one of the folks in the round. He was complaining of significant vision problems, head pain and nausea after the fact. LEVELS PROXIMITY in that order! If you’re sliding forward into the burble get big on the burble side and small towards where you want to go. If an impact is unavoidable, just get big and spread the impact out, it will be better for all parties involved! Wanting to ball up is the natural response to an eminent impact, it’s also one of the worst things you can do. You are building more energy as you fall. Everyone made it back, bleeding and all to continue the skydive (plan the dive, dive the plan). As you can see when the hangers went to stand, one of them lost the grip and the formation flipped. What you can’t see is that one person in the base had a leg strap loosen, this caused his rig to lift off his back some. When deployment time came he couldn’t find his hacky…and spent the rest of his freefall, till 750 feet to be approximate, looking for it. Remember. Two tries then reserve. Now I know what a lot of you are thinking, “What a fool!!!” yeah, I was too, but panic does funny things to you. Tunnel vision happens to the best of us in extreme situations. If you have never reached back for a hacky and have it not be there, you can’t really say how you will react. Have a plan and it will go better for you. The above problems started on the ground. From complacency with EP’s to putting people into slots they may not have been ready for, to poor safety briefing. We, as the more experienced skydivers, have a duty to be sure about what we are doing with the newer folks. It’s sunset and we all want to go on the same skydive but it’s not necessarily a good idea. I want to hear from you! What should we be doing differently? What did I miss? PEACE! Jason Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Hi kids. Did a search found nothing...anyone know what's up? They aren't accepting uploads. Does anyone know if this it temporary or permanent? I have an educational vid...anyone out there able to host? Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Not our brand of morality....God's. This is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas! No THIS! is the reason for the season. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

I call BS on that! Sitting in a plane waiting to take off, taxing, take off, ride to exit altitude and even under canopy. Body temperature is important. Ever since I had a case of severe heat exhaustion about 8 years ago I find that I'm a little more sensitive to heat. By more sensitive I mean that I can easily over heat and start suffering from heat sickness. That's not a state to be in when you're trying to go big infront of a lot of people for a demo. If you've ever had heat exhaustion you know what it feels like when its coming on AND you know what it does to your mind and physical ability. Heat injuries have a hell of alot more to do with hydration issues then temp ones. If a demo team in leathers is having issues with being in that shit for 45 min it has more to do with the amount of beer drank the night before then the temp outside. Overheating tends to be progressive as well, it can take six months to recover from a heat injury and every time it gets worse. If you are sensetive then don't put yourself in the environment. That all said most healthy adults wouldn't have any problem in that gear for 30 to 60 min. I gotta disagree all around, people that like to watch people make left turns at high speed will EAT THAT SHIT UP! Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Have no fear all! We will get those leathers off faster then you can say, "Please don't cut my leathers off!!!" I've worked Nascar, Drags, Indoor motocross and EMS in general forever, both ground and air. I like Jack Goose neck's, The same ones we use in skydiving BTW. Just carry several so when they get dull you toss em over your shoulder and grab another. Penny cutters are the same, they get dull quick, grab a new set. Having One set of anything in your emergency kit at you DZ isn't a good idea, have lot's. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Wussies! (Not a personal...rather a general attack!) I've done it a bit...It's a waste of effort really. If your doing anything cool in freefall you wont even hear it till you dump. I was always shocked to hear music when I deployed cause I was so focused on the skydive durring freefall. It's entertaining on the ride to altitude, not as entertaining as making fun of your friends though Especially if one of you ipod wearing friends is singing. I would wait until you have a good amount of experience till you start adding shit to your skydive. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

This is what can happen: Ouch!!! Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

I have a PD143 (W/L 1.5) and a Velocity 103 (W/L 2.1). It's the biggest reserve I can get into my Vector and the smallest Main. If I can get a bigger reserve into it I will, as big as I can get. I look at my reserve as my "I'm injured, scared and not thinking at the top of my game canopy". When I downsize my main I'll probably be going with an all sail JVX so it won't be an issue as far as having to get a bigger rig. As for the cost...I'd pay twice as much to get a better ie bigger reserve into a smaller space. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

What exactly do you think I'm saying that is getting you so excited? The, "Looks like the war on drugs has produced more collateral damage" was sarcasm...I usually don't have to explain it to poeple...I must have hit the wrong address...SORRY. What do you see as a good resolution to the situation? If you want to go after the cop on the street, your foolishly going after the symptom not the problem. BUT... If someone shoots at you, you shoot back. If you have never been shot at, great! But you have no basis to form an opinion. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

I don't think we're ignoring him, most people think he's an idiot I'd imagine. I'm glad he did exercise his right to make an ass of himself. Tom Cruise as well. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

I said yes...and I'm a card carrying member of the ACLU. If your speech is going to result in immediate violence then No (Fire in a theater and all that). If what your saying is provably untrue and will cause Significant harm (lying about a person or bussiness with teh intent of doing damage). Other then that, all's fair! From burnning the flag to saying the president is a moron. To all you people that get your feelins hurt when the flag is burned or it's pointed out that W is a jackass...freedom isn't easy. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

They were justified. Someone shot at them...they shoot back (no brainer!). Of course they should apologize, they fucked up and someone died. They fucked up, like has been pointed out, before they ever arrived, but someone died and three cops got shot. Looks like the war on drugs has produced more collateral damage. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Hey...this might be a good idea! We can tell the Iraqis to get there shit together or well put our puppet back in power! Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

As much as you can...and then some. I have 2 Roths (mine and wifeys) a traditional IRA, a 457 and a PERS safety retirement plan. I want to retire young and have money to burn. If you force yourself to live within a reduced budget you soon get used to it and it will no longer seem reduced. It always hurts when I take on a new investment but very quickly the amout of money I have each month becomes the norm. I also let my wife take care of the finance cause I am an idiot. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

I don't think anyone cares... edited to add: We are too busy worried about Tom Cruise getting married ROFL! Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

If Oil gets to the point where it's too expensive to skydive in the US...a lack of skydiving will be the least of your worries. There is no industry or product that petroleum doesn't touch directly of indirectly. We are deep into a single point failure system in the industrialized world and the spice will stop flowing soon. I'm more worried about food then skydiving. Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Please indicate gender Male age 37 1. When it comes to thrill seeking, which description best fits you: e) other - It's not a thrill I seek, It's the strive for technical excellence in a challenging environment...Now 2. What type of thrill seeking activities do you actively engage? Skydiving/Swooping, Firefighting/Haz-Mat/EMS 3. How many hours per week do you concentrate on these activities? 12 or More 4. How much experience do you have in your given thrill? 3 years or more 5. Given the following scale, how would you rate the risk involved with your thrill(s)? 10-high risk of injury or possible death 6. Choose the phrase that best fits you: ___a) I may not be an ‘adrenaline junkie’ but I like the opportunity to engage in thrill seeking activities because I enjoy it/them. ___c) I participate in thrills to promote a positive outlet for stress rather than seeking negative sensations. 7. When seeking a thrill, I am willing to put myself at risk Always 8. I believe that my knowledge and competence makes me less susceptible to the dangers of seeking risky thrills. ____Strongly agree 9. I would rate my health as: ____Excellent 10. I am open to experimenting with new sensations even if they are illegal. Strongly Agree Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos

Can I get an Amen brothers and sisters! Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for lost faith in ourselves. -Eric Hoffer - Check out these Videos